Biden’s team said Thursday (Dec. 17) that Richmond, one of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s closest advisers, tested positive for the Chinese Communist virus (Wuhan pneumonia).
Biden spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield said in a statement that Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-N.Y.) tested positive for the Chinese Communist virus. The Louisiana Democrat would be named senior White House adviser and director of the Office of Public Engagement if Biden takes the White House.
Richmond traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday for a drive-by rally in support of U.S. Senate candidates Jon Ossoff (D-N.Y.) and Raphael Warnock (D-N.Y.) in the Senate re-run election to be held on Jan. 5. The two seats will likely determine which party controls the federal Senate for the next four years.
Biden’s team said Richmond, 47, developed symptoms on Wednesday and had a rapid test, which showed positive for the Chinese Communist virus. Richmond then underwent a PCR test on Thursday, which also came back positive.
“After his rapid test came back positive, we immediately initiated a contact tracing protocol. As defined by the CDC, it has been determined that he had close contact with two individuals, neither of whom were Biden, Warnock or Ossoff staff.” The statement reads that he had close contact with two individuals who drove his car during the campaign trip. They “have been notified and have followed CDC guidelines for self-isolation.”
The CDC is the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Richmond was a key figure in helping Biden leverage his longstanding relationship with members of the Congressional African-American Caucus. The congressman was first elected in 2010, when Biden was a deputy to President Barack Obama.
Richmond, who served as chairman of the Congressional African American Caucus, was one of Biden’s earliest high-profile supporters and served as his campaign co-chair.
Richmond is scheduled to be quarantined for 14 days and will undergo PCR testing until two tests come back negative and then he will return to face-to-face work.
Biden also attended and spoke at the same event. The Associated Press reported that Biden has been active near his home since last month’s election, and the rally marked the second time he has left his home state of Delaware since Election Day.
Beddingfield said Biden did not test positive for the Chinese Communist virus after a PCR test Thursday. She said Richmond has not had close contact with Biden.
“Neither the candidate nor any member of the Ossoff or Warnock campaigns have had close contact with Richmond.” The spokeswoman said.
Bedingfield added that Richmond’s interaction with Biden “occurred in the open air, wearing a mask, and lasted less than 15 minutes total, which is the CDC’s range of time for close contact.” She added that Richmond and Biden were traveling separately to Atlanta.
Earlier, a journalist traveling with Biden was confirmed Wednesday to have contracted the Chinese Communist virus. The unnamed reporter, who was part of Biden’s press pool Monday and Tuesday, had traveled with Biden to Georgia on Tuesday.
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